Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 2 Ajax Amsterdam

Zagreb to contest points deduction

Updated: November 4, 2009, 11:56 AM UK

Dinamo Zagreb have confirmed their intention to appeal against the three-point penalty imposed on them by UEFA for a crowd disturbance in the Europa League earlier this season.

Around 140 Dinamo fans were detained by Romanian authorities as a result of trouble before, during and after their game against Timisoara on October 1.

It was not the first time supporters linked to Dinamo had caused problems and UEFA decided to dock the club the points they gained from the 3-0 victory in Romania, and they are currently bottom of Group A without a point.

A Dinamo spokesman told www.croatiantimes.com: "We'll explain the incidents caused by fans were not the club's fault and that we therefore find it inappropriate to take away the three points earned against Timisoara in Romania.''

The match in the Croatian capital will also be the first of two home Europa League fixtures to be played behind closed doors because of the disturbances in Romania.

The club, who have won four Croatian league titles in a row, are suffering a bad run of form by their own standards with two defeats in their last three games to NK Zagreb and bitter rivals Hajduk Split. Coupled with a defeat to Ajax in Amsterdam in their last European outing, the mini-slump has piled pressure on coach Krunoslav Jurcic.

However, club director Damir Vrbanovic rejected claims that Jurcic was under threat and told the club's official website nk-dinamo.hr: "We must stop dismissing coaches in such an unfounded way. We as a team must take responsibility for our performance and we don't subscribe to the idea (of sacking the coach).

"Krunoslav Jurcic has a team to prepare. We all make mistakes even though we try to do our best. There is no discussion on the coach's future and nor will there be any time soon.''

Jurcic himself added: "My players give me everything they can and I give my maximum too, certainly we do not think about losing any match. We will do our best in the game against Ajax.''

Ajax will aim to complete the double over Dinamo and move a step closer to the knockout rounds, although they will have to do without Ismail Aissati, who has a buttock injury, and Dennis Rommedahl, who has a hamstring problem.